The Rutgers-Camden NAACP chapter held their third annual Black Excellence Gala on Friday, February 27th, in the campus center. The event, which ran from 5 to 10 PM, featured a night of performances and history lessons for students, faculty, and community members. The theme for this year’s gala, titled “Black Dandyism at its Finest,” was a focus on the fashion movement with political undertones.

The event kicked off with a video address from Sen. Cory Booker, who shared his reflections on Black History Month. Trumpet Chichs & The P.A.C.E. Band, Raptor Royales Dance Team, and Afro Dynamics Dance Team entertained the gala’s guests. Reet Starwind, a poet, performed on stage with interactive crowd participation including his poetry workshop titled “The Midnight Note.”

NAACP Secretary Natalie Smith, a sophomore majoring in both criminal justice and music, said that this theme was selected to build off last year’s event. “Last year’s theme was ‘Black by Popular Demand,’” Smith said in an interview before the gala. “We wanted something bigger and grander here. This year we wanted to be grand so everybody who is attending is going to be expecting long, beautiful dresses, really nice, tailored suits, feathers, hats, props, everything.”

“Black dandyism is not just about dressing in suits. It is a cultural movement in the black diaspora that seeks to challenge stereotypes with their fashion as a means of exerting power,” said Smith. The 2025 Met Gala’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, served as the inspiration for the NAACP’s gala which will feature a focus on black style.

Professor Stacy Hawkins, from Rutgers-Camden Law, gave a lecture on the history of black dandyism at the event. She explained that the history of black dandyism began in the 18th and 19th centuries when enslaved and colonized black people wore tailored suits to take back their dignity. She also mentioned abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who wore tailored Victorian suits while campaigning for abolition, and Toussaint Louverture, who wore French military uniforms during the Haitian Revolution.

“Dandies took the clothes of their oppressors and turned it into elegance,” Professor Hawkins explained her speech, continuing with the zoot suit period of the 1930s and 40s. She mentioned that young people stole suits from stores during the riot in 1943 and took them to the streets with them as an act of rebellion. “His wardrobe is a battlefield,” she said, reciting a poem at the end of her speech.

The gala also featured an award ceremony for individual student leaders of Black organizations on campus, as opposed to awarding organizations as a whole as they have in past years. The idea came up during a winter retreat: 

“I presented the idea of yes we could still give an award to each organization, but why don’t we highlight actual individual student leaders within those organizations” Smith said. “I feel like there are a lot of students who do excellent work.”

Each of this year’s awards paid homage to a historical figure in the black community that the student represented. Natalie Smith received the Nina Simone Award for speaking about important matters. Kenneth Geffrard received the Purple Heart Hosea Williams Award for his work in justice and activism. Athletes were also honored, among them was Cameron Downs of the men’s basketball team. He received the Luol Deng Award for being a talented athlete with great accomplishments off the court. 

According to Mohammed Sharif Kanuteh, a senior at Rutgers University-Camden and chair of the NAACP environmental and climate justice committee, there was a lot of behind-the-scenes work that went into organizing the event. 

“What goes on is a lot of man work in the back of it” Kanuteh said. “It’s getting people ready, vendors marketing funding communication, and the cherry on top is having the event and hopefully making it a success.”

Kanuteh noted that the gala has grown each year, recalling that the previous year’s gala saw the mayor and many senators attend. This year, they hoped to see Senator Cory Booker, which he did, through the video message he sent to the audience.

Professor Maisha Aziz led the gala in an interfaith prayer and delivered a speech on the power of young people to change the world, recalling the stories of Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her bus seat at the tender age of 15, the Greensboro Four, who were all under the age of 20, and the Petersburg library sit-in, where over 140 black students desegregated the public library.

“They made a difference,” Aziz said. “Wherever your young people are, wherever you gather, you can make a difference.”

The gala recognized a plethora of Black student organizations, including the African Student Union, the Haitian Student Union, CARIBSA, and the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). The event also recognized a few fraternities and sororities, including Theta Phi Beta sorority (of Thea Omicron Chapter) and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity of (Mu Psi Chapter). The food was served by campus dining after NAACP and its partners did a taste-testing of the food.

Natalie Smith closed off the night and expressed her hope that everyone would grow closer together through this event. “Put things aside in their life and just have fun and just recognize that Black is beautiful Black is intelligent and it is important to exercise our Black excellence always,” Smith shared.

The event had a strong turnout and good energy according to attendees. A photo booth was available, and the food reviews from guests were glowingly described, “as very good and authentic,” by gala attendees.

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Years of student activism have culminated in the opening of Rutgers-Camden’s first cultural student center, The Bridge, on March 4, 2026. The new student center, located downstairs in the Campus Center, has been revamped to serve as a symbol of identity, belonging, and academic support for historically marginalized students.

Planning for the student center began in October 2024 under the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE). However, the initiative has been a long time coming, dating back to the 1990s when students advocated for the student center, but their requests were turned down by the administration.

“I believe in the ’90s, a group of students chained themselves to the steps of the library and protested for a space for our black and brown students on campus to feel seen, feel heard, feel welcome,” said Simone Owens, Senior Program Coordinator for DICE. “And at the time, those requests were rejected, and it’s been a student’s request since then.”

Owens, an alumna of Rutgers-Camden, described returning to campus to see the project through as a meaningful experience. “This was my home back in the day,” she said. “And so, this is my home again, just in a professional space, and that feels good to me.”

Kaseem Edwards, a recent graduate of the Rutgers-Camden business school, has been working with Owens to gather student feedback during the planning phase of the student center. He has been leading the charge by conducting focus groups to determine the direction that the student center will take.

Owens credited Edwards with helping her connect to the student body. “Kaseem is the reason I was able to first meet students, learn their rhythms, their patterns, their behaviors,” she said. “I owe much of that to Kaseem.”

The physical space features flexible seating, intimate group areas, a mini kitchen with complimentary coffee, and student artwork. A featured art piece titled “His Story” by McKayla Jones and the Arts Students League hangs prominently in the center. Jones, a junior studio art major and BFA candidate, explained the inspiration behind her work.

“The inspiration behind that piece was about pulling from different historical time periods and the different art styles that were trending during those times,” Jones said. “Sort of combining them again to represent the timelessness and the presence of Black Americans and how we can show up in those spaces and how we were present, even if we weren’t widely depicted in that sense.”

Jones said representation is a central theme in her work. “I think my inspiration comes from expressing myself and being able to give others a platform to also express themselves,” she said. “It’s more about representation.”

She recently taught a painting class at The Bridge entitled Paint with a Twist: an experience she described as unfamiliar territory. “It was fun. I was a bit nervous, but it was just fun to do something different, to branch out because it is something I have never done,” Jones said. “I’ve never taught a class on how to paint, but it was definitely interesting just to expose people to more.”

First-year music major Athen/Ari Smith visited The Bridge for the first time during its inaugural week. They attended the center’s first watch party, where students viewed an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“It was all very cozy with all the awesome furniture and the little broken up spaces,” Smith said. “I like the little mini kitchen, all the coffee stuff. It almost feels like being in a living room, which is just a very conducive environment to unwind after a long and stressful day.”

The programming of activities, luncheons, speaking engagements, and more at the student center is determined by the monthly LeaderLink meetings with student organizations, giving students a voice in the activities that will take place at the student center. 

Jose Pagán, Program Coordinator for Social Engagement for DICE, said the first week of programming exceeded expectations.

“If the first week is any indication, a lot of students have been craving the space,” Pagán said. “I feel like we’re beginning to fulfill that need. The more that we’re out there, the more that we’re doing things, the more that the students who need us are going to find us.”

The Bridge operates on a “wraparound” model, drawing from social work practices to connect students to culturally responsive resources. Owens said she intentionally designed the space to evolve with student needs. “We decorated it nice, but everything can come off these walls,” Owens said. “The furniture can be moved around. People can bring in new art. We wanted it to be a space that was designed to evolve and withstand changes as they come. The students make it their own.”

This student center has been a long time coming, especially at a time when the country is experiencing a climate where many universities are cutting their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The student center has been named The Bridge, a name that captures its essence: to create a bridge between students and resources, between commuter students and the university, between academic support and student support, and between the university and the community.

In the near future, the student center will partner with organizations such as Lucy Outreach and the Camden Recreation Centers to bring the community’s youth into the student center.

The student center’s inaugural schedule for the upcoming semester will feature a variety of activities, including cultural heritage, interfaith, LGBTQ+IA, and a watch party series. During the summer, the student center will look to strengthen community relationships, targeting commuter students by offering classes at the student center, known as The Bridge.

For Edwards, witnessing the project’s completion after being involved from the preliminary stages has been significant. “A lot of times, you see offices created, but you never really get to see the behind-the-scenes decisions (the administrative stuff, the finances, all that kind of stuff),” Edwards said.

Owens reflected on the journey from concept to reality. “This is the first time that I was able to build something from the ground up like this,” she said. “We’ve been doing this for a year and a half. The team has been my day one since then. Just to take all of our ideas and see it manifested in real time is beautiful.”

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The second annual “Pop the Balloon” dating event, sponsored by the Haitian Student Union in collaboration with the African Student Association and the Caribbean Student Association, had a packed house in the Multi-Purpose Room on February 12. The event exceeded expectations and drew between one-hundred and fifty to over two-hundred attendees despite the overall trend of low campus interest. 

At 7 p.m the house was standing-room-only. Students stood against the walls, their phones buzzing away as seven women stood on stage, each holding a balloon. Men approached them one by one and talked to them and answered their questions, and the women made their intentions clear. If they were not interested, they popped the balloon; otherwise, they didn’t. 

The inspiration behind this event comes from a YouTube dating show, where people show their interest in each other with balloons. The person can choose to hold on to a balloon if there is a potential connection or pop it if they believe there is not. 

At the first version of the event last year the men controlled the balloons. However, this year, the tables turned, and it was the women holding the balloons instead.

“It’s a switch up,” said Kenny Geffrard, a senior and HSU’s campus liaison, as well as president of the Black Student Union. Geffrard was also one of the co-hosts of this event. Geffrard said, “It was originally thought up by our former president, Kiara Lewis, who graduated last year. She had this dating event on campus, kind of like ‘Love Island.’ I was a part of it, but when Pop the Balloon started becoming popular, we decided to change it up.”

Mustafa Abdus-Sabuur, who oversees campus events, helped coordinate the room reservation, with organizers emphasizing the importance of holding the event during Valentine’s week.

Last year, it was held in South ABC but this year it was held in the Multi-Purpose Room, which is symbolic of its increasing popularity. Geffrard pointed out, “It’s a big deal. That’s where we hold our events when we think there’s going to be a large number of people coming.”

“We definitely maximized the space this time,” said Jasmine Clervil, a senior and HSU president.

Both years, however, have had their own set of challenges. According to Clervil, getting participants has been the biggest challenge. “Last year, our male participants literally confirmed the day before the event,” she recalled. “It was up in the air whether we’d even have anyone. But this year, we’re having a lot of underclassmen sign up, and our upperclassmen are taking their time. Still, even though it’s been touch-and-go, I was really touched by what the students wrote in the sign-up sheet.”

The participants represented a wide range of class years, including freshmen, sophomores, juniors, three seniors, and two graduate students, which made the lineup diverse and unpredictable. The crowd was full of energy. There were plenty of laughs, unexpected twists, and even a moment where a male contestant went up and someone in the audience called his past partner to tell them what he was doing.

“A lot of people are talking about finding true love, ” Clervil said. “Everyone knows the Pop the Balloon show isn’t taken very seriously by many, but after seeing those responses: ‘true love’—I thought, okay!” Clervil hopes the participants enjoyed themselves even if no one won the contest. “They’re putting themselves out there, ” she said. “That’s the point.”

“Although we struggled early on to fill the male lineup, we were fortunate to end up with five solid participants, and the event turned out to be incredibly enjoyable. The energy, surprises, and crowd engagement made it one of our most memorable events yet,” Clervil added.

Geffrard expressed, “Since I’ve been a student leader, there’s been a decrease in student engagement each semester since last year. I’m a senior now and I’m still seeing more of a drop.” However, the turnout for the dating show gave him hope for the future. “I hope they take away that college is fun and that more students start showing up, ” he said. These events we’re hosting: my wish is that the underclassmen see it and think, oh, I could host this next, or I could be a part of it. 

The partnership between HSU, ASA, and CaribSA is intentional. “We opened it up to the orgs of color after working with ASA the previous year and CaribSA the year before that for the event,” said Clervil. 

Geffrard continued, “So, reaching out to other students outside of those groups is part of the process, too.”

“Whenever people hear Black Student Union or Haitian Student Union or African Student Association, the usual reply is, ‘I’m not Black, though,’” said Geffrard. “We have to tell them, because it’s clear that’s what they’re thinking.” He stopped for a moment. “Yeah, it weighs on us. It’s just another aspect of the role.” 

The evening ended with six matches. Both Clervil and Geffrard are seniors. Kiara Lewis graduated last year and left something she created for them. Now, they hope to pass it on.

Before the event, Clervil explained what she hoped to accomplish. “If we can count on a good turnout, that will be my greatest reward.” 

After all the registered participants finished their turns, five unregistered male members of the audience asked if they could go on stage during the final 30 minutes of the event. Two of them succeeded in keeping their balloons from being popped and got matches.  The balloons burst. The girls, realizing they might have judged their potential valentines too soon, asked for new ones. The room was full.  

Organizer and HSU President Clervil was happy about the outcome of the event and ecstatic about what’s to come: “We’re excited to keep the momentum going with our upcoming events, including Celebrity Wannabe on March 26, 2026, and another romance-themed event coming in late April. Stay tuned.”

The night ended with six couples in matching pairs, and the audience chose the winner of the night by cheering. The winning pair was Makai Crawford, a freshman at Rutgers-Camden, and Kristina Gray, a junior at Temple University. Every contestant brought something different to the stage, some were more serious, others were there for a good time, but together they all created a lively, entertaining atmosphere.

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By Addy Adebo

While honors were plentiful, a playoff dream slipped away. The Rutgers-Camden men’s soccer team’s 2025 season highlighted remarkable individual talent that ultimately could not change the disappointment of an early playoff exit. The Scarlet Raptors finished with a record of 7-8-4 overall (4-3-2 in the NJAC).

The season’s achievements were led by senior Eric Swen, who received United Soccer Coaches All-Region IV honors, adding to his three All-Conference selections. His ability to play both forward and defense was essential for the Raptors. He was joined on the All-NJAC First Team by senior captain and midfielder Brandon Valeri.

Off the field, the team’s dedication to academics stood out, winning the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award again. Four players also made the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, which honors the top student-athletes in the nation.

The Raptors’ season kicked off with a strong start, including a dominating 4-0 victory over St. John Fisher. Other wins followed, including a 4-3 Homecoming victory over nationally-ranked Rowan, which Head Coach Timothy Oswald called “a highlight of the season.” 

Oswald also mentioned that Rutgers-Camden is one of only three NJAC programs to reach the conference playoffs for four straight seasons. He highlighted sophomores Dylan Pino and Nik Grello, Captain Jason Garwood, and freshman Antonio Yantas as players poised for breakout seasons.

Reflecting on the playoff loss to TCNJ, Garwood commented that a key disallowed goal was “all part of the game, and we use it as motivation… it makes you want to fight even harder because you are right there but not there yet.” With a core of award-winning young players now battle-tested, the Scarlet Raptors men’s soccer squad feel they are closer than ever to achieving their goals.

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By Addy Adebo

An influx of new talent, a fresh team identity, and a hot start have the Rutgers Scarlet Raptors men’s basketball team quickly evolving from an NJAC afterthought to a real conference contender. Under seasoned veteran Head Coach Stuart Pradia, the Scarlet Raptors have raced to a 5-1 record in the early season, showcasing a strong, team-first style of basketball that is grabbing the league’s attention.

The on-court results have been immediate, starting off the season with a 75-71 comeback win at Alvernia on November 8^th. The team then rattled off three more wins, including a decisive 95-73 victory over Immaculate on November 22^nd to reach 5-1. This start aligns well with the team’s recognition as the “dark horse” in the NJAC’s preseason coaches’ poll, a title they are enthusiastically embracing.

 The Raptors’ collective grit and tough defense was on full display during the “Wright Tournament” at Amherst College. After losing to the host team, the Raptors battled back to win the consolation game, driven by a career-high 28-point performance from Chase Downes, who received All-Tournament honors. The team’s defensive effort was acknowledged when junior Edmundo Senft was named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week on November 17^th for his relentless play.

Coach Pradia, who was formerly an assistant at NJAC rival Kean University, has established a straightforward, effort focused philosophy since he was hired back in 2019. He said, “My goal is to mold Rutgers-Camden into one of the top programs in the NJAC,” drawing from his deep understanding of the conference. 

Pradia’s message has clearly resonated with the players, Freshman Mehki Carter summarizing his coach’s approach: “he likes to keep things simple and the game plan clear.”

The players have fully embraced this team-focused mindset. When asked about the team’s heart, Carter remarked on the shared attitude: “We don’t have one single heartbeat or soul; we need every player on the team to reach our best.” Carter also noted, “Our weakness is that our tallest player is only 6’5, but we can overcome that with our effort.”

The team’s goals, as expressed by Carter, focus on daily improvement: “to reach our best each and every day.” This commitment to everyday growth serves as the foundation for the program’s high ambitions. However, the schedule offers no break. The young season already includes a tough 95-56 exhibition loss to NCAA Division I Saint Joseph’s University on November 25^th, a game that while doesn’t count against the season standings provides a high-level measuring stick and valuable lessons.

As the Scarlet Raptors move deeper into their conference schedule, a solid foundation is clearly in place. With the new young talent that has quickly embraced Coach Pradia’s established vision they are well on their way towards being a legitimate contender through a tough defensive identity and a united team embracing their strengths. These 2025 Scarlet Raptors are not just looking to surprise opponents—they aim to outdo them. 

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